PRICING:

Outdoor Portrait*

4”x5” – $300

5”x7” – $350

8”x10” – $400

(Pricing is for 2 tintype portraits, which may require multiple tintypes. Read FAQ below to make sense of it all including rates for additional portraits.)

* Outdoor Portrait is at a location of your choosing but must be accessible by car. Extra travel fees apply if location is greater than 10 miles outside of Chico.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How do I book a Tintype Portrait? 

Please send me an email [seankellypeeler@gmail.com]! Or, fill out my Contact form on my website.

What is included in the purchase of a Tintype Portrait?

You receive the finished tintypes from our session! Each is varnished (archival) and ready to be framed. As well as, high resolution digital copies ready for making beautiful digital prints or sharing on the web.

Can you further explain how your pricing works?

Let’s say you want a single portrait made of you and your partner in wet plate collodion on a 5”x7” tintype. That will cost you $350. When we shoot your outdoor portrait expect that I actually make multiple tintypes as this historic process requires many moving parts (including exposure by intuition) to fall into place, therefore, not always is the first tintype I make of you the ONE. Following the first tintype I will occassionally shoot an additional tintype of the same portrait to ensure exposure, framing, and chemistry is just perfect! That is why I say the price is per image, not per tintype, as it may take 2-3 tintypes to achieve a perfect image in wet plate collodion (aka tintype).

What if I desire more than 2 Tintype Portraits during our session?

If you would like to make additional tintype portraits during our Outdoor Portrait session that is not a problem! I do not charge the same base rate ($300 for 4x5”, $350 for 5x7, $400 for 8x10) for each subsequent tintype portrait. I charge a flat price of $60 for each additional tintype portrait regardless of size of plate. For example, say you want 3 original and different 4x5” tintype portraits made during our Outdoor Portrait session. That would cost you $360 total; $300 for the house-call and first two tintype portraits, and $60 more for the additional portrait. Send me an email and we can discuss in length your ideas and my rates.

Do you offer gift cards?

Yes! I have digital gift cards. I accept electronic payment via Venmo (@seanpeeler), PayPal (I will send invoice to your email), or cash. Send an email [seankellypeeler@gmail.com] with what type of gift certificate you’d like. Please be sure to specify quantity of images and dimension of tintype (4x5, 5x7, or 8x10). Gift certificates are sent via email after payment has been received.

What is a typical Outdoor Tintype Portrait experience?

If I know the location and can arrive early I will come on to the scene 30 minutes prior to your arrival and spend 30 minutes setting up my equipment/chemistry. If that is not the case expect to wait 20 minutes for set up to take place. Once set up I will begin the photography session. Each tintype from beginning to end takes about 5-10 minutes to make. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you pose for 10 minutes, in fact, an exposure will typically take anywhere from 1-8 seconds and the rest of that 10 minutes you can generally hang out and watch the magic happen. A portrait session where 2 image are paid for will typically require 2-4 tintypes to be made. Once we have an excellent tintype made you are welcome to leave while I break down and clean up my equipment. That means a tintype portrait session can be anywhere from 45-90 minutes. Carve 60 minutes out of your schedule as a safe bet.

Do you travel?

Yes! I love making portraits in unique spaces that hold personal significance, your garden, a favorite stretch along the river, the park where you got married…
I tend to stay in a 10 mile radius of Chico, but am able to travel further with a travel fee. Travel fees increase based on mileage. Shoot me an email and we can talk.

What exactly is a Tintype?

Considered by many to be the Polaroid of the 19th century, the tintype is a unique photograph on a sheet of enameled metal, made almost instantaneously of silver and salt through a darkroom technique that uses hand poured chemicals. It uses one of the first photographic processes, wet plate collodion, which dates back to 1851! Each tintype is archival, handmade and a timeless tangible heirloom in this digital age.

Do you do private events? Do you do public events?

Yup! Please shoot me an email if you are interested in having me setup at your upcoming event. Markets, music festivals, weddings, as well as private celebrations are all welcome.

May I bring my wiggly child for a portrait?

Yes, with a caveat. Some factors to consider when choosing to bring in your child. In order to achieve a successful image, one needs to be able to sit still and hold in place for about 10 seconds to ensure that everyone is in focus and in the frame. If a young child—or an adult for that matter—moves even sligthly the rendering of them in the picture will be blurry or soft. I have experience photographing babies with their families and the results are mixed. But let’s talk about it so I can give you the full picture!
* If I am unable to get a satisfactory capture of your child due to their lack of cooperation and you elect to not re-shoot, full payment is still expected to cover cost of materials and time. 

Can I bring my pet for a portrait?

Absolutely! Similar caution/expectations need apply as photographing small children or baby. I have photographed many subjects with their beloved dog. That said, well behaved dogs photograph better.

What if I want multiple copies of my Tintype?

Due to the nature of this photographic process each image I make is unique, that’s what makes them one-of-a-kind and so special. Similar to the Polaroid, each tintype is the product of one exposure and the resulting physical photograph is the only version that will exist. If you would like multiples of a shot, I will need to shoot the same scene multiple times. This will not produce identical tintypes, but is the closest I can achieve with this process. Please keep this in mind when booking a portrait session and accounting for quantity. Additionally, scans are included with the purchase of an Outdoor Portrait, so you are able to make printed reproductions on inkjet paper.

What should I wear?

Anything you want! Feel free to fancy yourself up or dress as casual as you'd like. Due to the historical camera used, all images are flipped horizontally, so I don't recommend that you wear text unless you’re okay with it appearing backwards. Pattern, textures and accessories always look great! This process translates colors in a very specific way, blues/cooler tones are lighter, while reds/warmer tones are darker. For example, if you have long black hair and wear an orange blouse, chances are they will appear as similar dark tones and possibly blend into each other. If you are concerned about specific outfit ideas or want more details, please shoot me an email.

How long until I get my Tintypes and scans after our session?

After we make the tintype, I have to thoroughly wash the plate, dry it overnight, scan and edit the plate to digitize it, varnish the plates, and let the varnish cure, all before they are able to go safely home with you. This whole process takes approximately one week. Once ready I will send you an email or text where you can either choose to have them mailed or delivered depending on distance to their new home. If you are local generally I’m happy dropping them off in person.

Can we reshoot a plate? What if I blink or don’t like my facial expression?

Don't worry if you blink, the fraction of a second that blinking happens will not be recorded in the seconds long exposure. Additionally, I'll be sure to develop the plate in front of you, so if a change needs to be made, I can reshoot it on the spot. Due to the nature of chemical photography, these images typically contain minor artifacts/aberrations due to chemistry and evidence of handling. I do not reshoot free-of-charge for artifacts unless they detract from the overall quality of an image. If you would like to reshoot a plate during our session, either to possess multiple copies or to fix a facial expression you can’t live with, you’re welcome to request so. A “reshoot” isn’t an entirely new image with new composition, pose, backdrop, etc.

How do I redeem my gift card and how long is it good for?

Simply book an appointment and present your gift card when you arrive as digital copy in email or printed. It is important to present proof of the gift card as it contains identifying information about the session purchased, such as size and quantity of plates. Gift cards are valid until the expiration date noted on the card (one year after purchase).

Can I use the photograph commercially?

Sure can! Like any photographer, usage fees apply when the work is used for commercial or editorial purposes. The price will vary depending on how the image is used. Contact me anytime for a quote.